Miami's first green store: a Staples

On the edge of the Staples parking lot off Biscayne Boulevard, a 1,300-gallon water tank collects rainwater that then fills the store's toilets and feeds the plants and shrubs.

It's all part of the environmentally friendly, LEED-certified design at the office supply store at 2121 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. The store, which opened just over a year ago, earned a gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certificate in February.

It is the only retail store in Miami to earn an LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to Marie Coleman, a spokeswoman for the organization.